Word for Word 10/10/18

Sanctification (holiness) and Good Works

Not the Law and the Commandments, but the Gospel, the forgiveness of sins in Christ, is the mother of sanctification (holiness) and good works. This is seen most clearly in regards to keeping the First Table of the Law, love for God (Matthew 22:37-39).  It is impossible to have any love for God without first knowing and believing that all our sins are forgiven in Christ.  Without knowing and believing that all our sins are forgiven in Christ, we remain in our sin and guilt, and in a state of dread and terror of God, the opposite of love for Him.  But when we know and believe the Gospel, that Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sin in our place, and now in Him we have the forgiveness of all our sins, then our spontaneous response is to begin to love God from the heart, the First Table of the Law --- The starting point for sanctification (holiness) and good works.

“We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we came to this conclusion: One died for all; therefore, all died. And he died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves but for him, who died in their place and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

Pastor Ron Pederson
King of Grace Lutheran Church, Waukon  (ELS)
Trinity Lutheran Church, Calmar  (ELS)